Name/Title
Lé Ménestrel J. Girard 1902 Green Pathé Frères / J. Girard & Cie, ParisEntry/Object ID
220Description
ca. 1902–1903
Historical Background
The phonograph Le Ménestrel was first introduced by Pathé Frères around 1900 in a simple wooden case. In 1902, the Parisian firm J. Girard & Cie commissioned a more luxurious version, featuring a cast-iron base and elaborate decorative finishes.
The green model shown here dates from 1903 and represents the second version. Unlike the earlier models, it could play not only standard cylinders but also the larger Pathé “Inter” cylinders.
Technology and Features
Base: heavy cast iron, richly decorated in the “Louis XV” style
Lid: green-painted metal with gold embellishments, royal fleur-de-lis, and a lyre motif
Reproducer: Pathé “Rex” soundbox
Cylinder formats: compatible with both Standard and Inter cylinders
Price and Marketing
Retail price: 147 French Francs
Payment plan: 21 monthly installments of 7 Francs
Included: 10 recorded cylinders + 5 blank cylinders
Rarity and Significance
Le Ménestrel reflects the close collaboration between Pathé Frères and J. Girard & Cie in marketing elegant phonographs for middle-class homes. The green version from 1903 is particularly rare and documents Pathé’s transition from cylinder technology to the disc format that would soon dominate.
The example displayed at the Edisonium is a superbly preserved specimen of this prestigious series.
